Calendar of Events

Human Rights Day 2012 - Award Ceremony of the UNESCO/Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights

On the occasion of the Human Rights Day 2012, UNESCO's Director-General Irina Bokova and the Mayor of the City of Bilbao Mr Iñaki Azkuna will award the UNESCO/Bilbao Prize at a ceremony which will be held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, has designated Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu from South Africa as laureate of the 2012 UNESCO/Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights. Archbishop Desmond Tutu was selected by an International Jury in recognition of his exceptional contribution to building a universal culture of human rights at the national, regional and international levels.

The ceremony will pay tribute to the life-long commitment of the Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Chair of The Elders, Desmond Tutu, to building a universal culture of human rights through his courageous and non-violent activism in favour of a world free from fear and hunger, in which fundamental freedom of opinion and expression, worship and participation in public life are guaranteed for all. The unwavering defender of human dignity, who has spared no effort to advance peace and reconciliation and to eradicate injustice and violence, in particular in relation to children and women, Archbishop Desmond Tutu has spent his life in the service of humanity - even after his retirement from public life. At present, he is working for the elimination of child marriage by the year 2030. Since the assassination attempt on the Pakistani teenage girl Malala Yousufzai last October, Archbishop Tutu has associated himself with her cause to promote girls' right to education.

The Director-General will award the Prize at 5.30 p.m (Room I) in the presence of Mr Ibon Areso, Deputy Mayor. Archbishop Tutu will be represented by his eldest daughter Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe.

The 80 singers of all ages of the Choir Invisible, Desmond and Leah Tutu Choir for Peace, U.K., will perform a capella compositions inspired by South African Gospel and soul music to lyrics by Archbishop Tutu at the award ceremony. On the occasion of the award ceremony of this Prize, the works by the Japanese artist Toshimi Ishii (Toshi), creator of the Trophy of the UNESCO/Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights, will be exhibited at UNESCO 5Salle des Pas Perdus) from 10 to 13 December 2012.

The biennial UNESCO/Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights, established in 2008, will be awarded for the third time in 2012, thanks to the generous endowment from the City of Bilbao (Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, Spain). Enlarging the scope of the UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education (1978-2006), the Prize rewards the outstanding contributions made by organizations and individuals to the cause of human rights by means of education and research. The Prize also raises awareness on human rights, particularly among decision-makers.

The winner of the Prize will receive a diploma, a trophy and a monetary award of US$30,000.

PROGRAMMEAward Ceremony for the UNESCO/Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human RightsTo commemorate Human Rights Day and the 64th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsMonday, 10 December 2012 / UNESCO (Room I)Simultaneous interpretation English/French/Spanish

Mr Nasila Rembe, Chair of the International Jury of the UNESCO/Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights

18.20The ceremony will be followed by a concernt of the Choir Invisible – The Desmond & Leah Tutu Peace Choir (UK) A 80-strong a cappella choir singing African-American and South African gospel and soul music inspired by the words of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

19.20Presentation of the works by the Japanese artist Toshimi Ishii (Toshi), creator of the Trophy of the Prize, at UNESCO (Salle des Pas Perdus) on this occasion.